Invest Well, Be Well

Jim Ware - The Culture Factor: How Great Investment Teams Win

Episode Summary

A podcast for wiser investing and stronger living. Success in the markets and in life requires sound investments — in our portfolios and our personal wellness. A weekly show, Invest Well, Be Well explores the principles of long-term investing, behavioral finance and peak performance with top-performing investment professionals and cross-industry leaders. Hosted by investment executive Rusty Vanneman and seasoned journalist Robyn Murray, each episode offers practical strategies for building wealth and prioritizing well-being, so you can make better decisions, grow your resilience and elevate your life. In this episode, we spoke with Jim Ware, CFA. Jim is the founder of Focus Consulting Group, a firm dedicated to helping investment leaders leverage their talent. James is also a highly acclaimed industry author and international speaker on the subjects of investment leadership, culture and building high performing teams. A frequent keynote speaker at CFA Institute, Mutual Fund Educational Alliance, Investment Adviser Association, U.S. Institute and other major industry conferences, James is recognized for his insightful, inspiring and entertaining presentations. His most recent books are Type, Talent and Teams (2018), Lessons on Leadership (LOL) (2018) and Money, Meaning, and Mindsets (2017). Prior books include Investment Leadership: Building a Winning Culture for Long-Term Success (Wiley, 2003) and High Performing Investment Teams (Wiley, 2006). They identify elements of leadership and teamwork that lead to sustainable success for investment firms. His articles have been published in the FAJ and JPM. James has 20 years’ experience as a research analyst, portfolio manager, and director of buy-side investment operations. He has been a guest lecturer on the topic of investment firm management at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. His educational background includes a Masters in Business from the University of Chicago and a degree in philosophy from Williams College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Episode Notes

Tune in to hear:

In this episode, we discuss Jim’s career, the relationship of company culture to performance, the human-side of investing and how firms that work remotely can still cultivate a strong company culture.

What experience shifted Jim’s focus to the “human-side” of investing?
Which one of Jim’s books best captures his philosophy today and what core message from that book still resonates with him?
What separates high-performing investment cultures from the rest? Are there consistent traits or practices that stand out to Jim?
What are some of the blind spots people have in regard to company culture?
How does Jim define and measure culture in a firm in a way that’s practical and repeatable?
What are some of the traits of what Jim calls “Red X Employees?” How should employers manage individuals like this?
How can firms encourage and sustain curiosity and creativity in high pressure environments?
For teams that work remotely, what are some of the best ways to create and sustain culture?
What personal practices does Jim lean on to stay grounded, high-performing and aware in his life and in his work?
Looking ahead, what gives Jim the most optimism about the future of investment leadership and culture?

Quotes

“In [my book, High Performing Investment Teams], we talk about seven behaviors we’ve seen with clients, overtime, that really make a difference. They are things like curiosity…they’re all skills, they’re all learnable. It’s not like you’re born curious or not. You may show up in life as more curious, for various reasons, but everybody can become curious ” - [06:00] Jim Ware

“[EQ] is the ticket to success. You know Warren Buffet said: ‘IQ gets you into the game and EQ puts you in the winner’s circle.’” - [52:00] Jim Ware

Links

Connect with Us